This is a selection of photographs which I believe will be of most
interest to WW2 list members.

They were taken with a Panasonic Digital Video camera in still shot mode.

The initial reason for the visit was to photograph the world's only surviving
Kawasaki Ki-100-1b, serial number BAPC83/8476M/16336. Arguably the best late-war fighter produced by the Japanese.

There are, of course, many other fascinating and rare aviation exhibits at
this musem. Click here.

(293Kb)(253Kb)
(264Kb)

(288Kb)
(257 Kb) Close up of engine cowling

(292 Kb) Front view through the wings of a 1930s Hawker Hart trainer.

History of this aircraft

Initially conceived as a stop-gap design, the Kawasaki
Ki-100-1b was one of the finest Japanese fighters of the Second World War
although not introduced until 1945.

One consequence of the American 'island-hopping' campaign
across the Pacific was to expose Japan to air attack by long-range bombers. In
response, the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force urgently sought fighters with
improved high-altitude performance.

To meet this need in the short term, Kawasaki produced a
high-altitude version of the Ki-61 Hien (Swallow) fighter. However, problems
with its liquid-cooled engine resulted in large numbers of airframes being
placed in storage awaiting serviceable engines. In an attempt to overcome this
bottleneck, three airframes were modified to accept a Mitsubishi radial engine.
Redesignated the Ki-100, the first prototype made its maiden flight on 1
February 1945.

Following an accelerated and highly successful test programme,
272 of the stored airframes were rebuilt to Ki-100-1a standard between February
and June 1945 and pressed into service as Army Type 5 fighters. An additional
118 new airframes with bubble canopies - designated Ki-100-1b - were
manufactured before the Japanese surrender.

Fast, manoeuvrable, rugged and reliable, Allied pilots found
the Ki-100 a formidable opponent.

This is the only one to survive.

On this individual aircraft.

Little is known of the early history of this aircraft, one author has
suggested that it may have been seized in Japan by US forces following the
Japanese surrender and subsequently transferred to the Allied Technical Air
Intelligence Unit at Johore, Malaya, in late 1945, although this has not been
confirmed.